Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given plans demonstrate the Harbour in year 2000 and how it looks today.
Overall,it is illustrated that Harbour is consist of marine ,public beach and fishing boards and some others items.
The porth Harbour in year 2000 has enterance from main road where it has showers and toilets at its east direction car park was in front of it by crossing the car park marine area started where private yachts were stand by fishing boats were located on the other side next to car park area.The dock was situated where passenger ferries are placed then over to it was public beach for all type of people.Lifeboat were located on other road which was linked to main road a small public beach was also there for citizens and in the corner of Harbour castle was made facing the public beach.
The parth Harbour looks today totally different it is also located near main road showers and toilets and cark park field is at same places but the fishing boats and marine area are shuffled .Dock is at same place where passenger ferries are moving and public beach is at same land but cafes and shops are new here which are next to marine area the south side beach is converted into private beach for hotel customers the hotel is located in the corner of Harbour which is linked with road coming from main road.
There are insignificant changes in Harbour was is 2000 and Harbour looks nowadays.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour in 2000 and the present day. However, the overview is weak; the final sentence, 'There are insignificant changes', contradicts the visual evidence of significant developments like the new hotel and the conversion of the beach. The description of the changes is somewhat mechanical, listing features rather than synthesizing the information to highlight key trends or major transformations. To improve, you should focus on grouping related features (e.g., infrastructure vs. leisure facilities) and provide a more accurate summary of the overall transformation in the introduction or overview paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'is at same place'). Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track the location of specific features. For example, phrases like 'over to it' and 'on other road' lack precision. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical progression that guides the reader through the comparison of the two maps.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'fishing boards' instead of 'fishing boats', 'shuffled' to describe the layout changes, and 'for all type of people'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to maps and spatial descriptions, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'transformed', or 'redeveloped', and ensure that collocations are accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the Harbour', 'in year 2000'), subject-verb agreement ('Harbour is consist of'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack necessary punctuation, which hinders readability. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically the correct use of articles and prepositions. Proofreading for basic errors like 'was is 2000' would also significantly improve the clarity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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